Shelby Township Art Fair celebrates 30th anniversary

Barbara Gasparski, chairwoman of the 30th annual Shelby Township Art Fair, remembered the first like it was yesterday.

“When we first started, art fairs weren’t all that big a thing,” she said. “I think we had 48 or 49 artists, and we had to beg them to come … Every year, it’s improved.”

Next month, Aug. 10-11, the fair returns on the grounds of the Shelby Township municipal complex. From its humble beginning, the Shelby Art Fair has grown to one of the summer’s most-popular events. Some 80 artists will be on hand to display and sell their wares in a variety of media, including paintings, drawings, crafts and many more.

“The quality of the work keeps people coming back,” Gasparski said.

A special feature this year is the Detroit Institute of Arts Inside/Out project, which feature classic art reproductions on display. Those works, currently on display at various locations around Shelby Township, will be available for viewing at the fair.

At the other end of the spectrum, proving that art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, the township’s Beautification and Solid Waste and Recycling Committee will host “Trashy Treasures.” The attraction is a contest in which works of art are created from recyclable materials.

While the art is the main attraction, visitors will find plenty of other attractions and activities to grab their attention as they stroll the tree-lined grounds of Shelby Township’s municipal complex near Van Dyke and 24 Mile roads.

Back after a successful debut last year will be Michigan Made Products Area, where, as the name implies, products made in the state will be displayed and for sale.

Food, crafts and attractions just for kids also are part of the planned festivities, while an impressive lineup of musical groups will keep things lively.

Parking and admission to the Shelby Township Art Fair is free. Additional parking will be available at the Shelby Township Community Center , about one-half mile south on Van Dyke. Free shuttle buses will be available to ferry art fair visitors to and from their vehicles.

The first 400 families to attend each day will receive a free “swag” tote bag filled with fliers, coupons and promotional items.

For more information on the Shelby Township Art Fair, call the township’s parks and recreation department at (586) 731-0300 or visit the township’s Website at www.shelbytwp.org/departments/prm.